Howls and wolfie kisses,
Kathie

It is not cool at all to say you own a wd.
Why: wd's can become illegal in your chosen city and state by the writing and approval from your city/state, which can give the city/state the right to remove and kill the wd (as with any specific breed law). The rabies vaccine is not approved for wd's, and if they bite, they can be taken from you and his/her head cut off for study. The history (accurate or inaccurate) of wolves creates negativity from some people in general, and they may be your own neighbors, which can create a hostile place to live. Some people are misinformed and it is posted on the internet and talked about which causes fear and hate. One incident can cause all wd's to be labelled as a dangerous animal, they do not look at the total situation such as abuse and mistreatment, and that all dd's can have this behavior and that it has happened with dd's.

Shiningeyes

For me it is not cool at all. In fact I have and will do everything I can to protect my baby by never admitting her true mix. It's a fear factor for me because I don't want to lose her. I wish at times I could tell some people what she is but I don't dare.

Karen

Sadly, no. I tell close friends and other wd owners. Otherwise I just tell them what they are mixed with. We also have a pit bull which is somewhat iffy to tell people about. Even the breeds my wd's are mixed with put people off. It's sad because people are so truly ignorant when it comes to breed and temperament and behavior.

Sandi

Let me tell you what happened when we went trick or treating on Halloween. My husband, the kids and myself were walking around our neighborhood with Storm. We have a few teenage kids that like to pull stunts on smaller kids. We walked by a group of people minding our own business when one of the girls gasped when she spotted our wd Storm. All I heard was, "Oh my God, It's a wolf! It's a wolf! It's a wolf!" Now we are really cautious about what we say to people around here. They all had so many questions that my hubby just said, my wife is better to answer your questions them me. Every one of them wanted to know what he was like, if he was good with the kids (age 3 & 6), and if he was pure naturally. I patiently answered their questions and Storm just lapped up all the love and attention like a ham.

So to say it is cool to own a wd, NO! But I look for opportunities just like these to teach just a few more people what it really means to own one of these wonderful animals. As a matter of fact I will be taking Storm to teach the first graders at my daughter's school about wds in the spring. I know Storm will have a blast!

Heather

It's not cool, it's ignorant IF you are only saying you have a wolfdog BECAUSE "It's so cool." But I tell people all the time I have wolfdogs... not because I think it's cool, but because I want people to know that they are not mythological baby-killing murderers, as they are so often portrayed. The "Teacher" in me just can't let a "Teachable Moment" go by when it comes to public education about wolfdogs.

Kat

It isn't. And it could be dangerous to the dog in some places. While I'm all for education, I'm more for discrestion and common sense in whom I tell what. Also, this likely will be repeated many times: PLEASE avoid wd on any written records. Just use Mal mix, or even better, simply mixed breed.

Judy

COOL to say I have a wolfdog?
NEVER! For the protection of these animals I say they are a mutt mix...That's the way they are listed at my vet also!~~

Nikki

Apparently it is quite cool and popular since 90% of the dogs being called wolfdogs do not appear to have any wolf at all in them! Plus, it seems to let people off the hook as far as training goes since I am always hearing from folks "I cannot train this wolf-It will destroy his mystical spirit!" Whatever.

I personally think it is way cooler to say you have an adorable big lug of a dog who is well-trained and a joy to be around. If people ask, "Is that's a wolf?" just smile and say you have noticed that he does look a little wolfy but you think that is from his sled dog parents (or whatever story you use,) then change the subject and talk about all the neat things he knows how to do.

Kay

A dog owner thought it was "cool" to tell people his dog had recent wolf heritage. But when the dog bit a child, the owner found out just how cool it is to have an animal represented to be a wolfdog.

Tucker the dog was killed, and his head sent to a lab for rabies testing. This is often the fate of animals who are represented as having recent wolf heritage.

Learn more about why this brown floppy-eared dog was killed, and why your wolfdogs may be at risk for the same fate. Read, "Tucker's Story".